Creative intern Robin Lyons tells us about his first few weeks at muirhoward.

Where to begin? After coming to muirhoward to receive the second book crit of my life from the wonderful creative team of Julia and Polo, I was unsuspectingly invited back to meet Ken the Creative Director for a second meeting – and hey presto I’ve landed a placement at muirhoward!

Before I knew it, I was liquored up, dressed as a reindeer and singing “Girls and Boys” by Blur – was this how they welcomed every employee? This was not your average introduction to an ad agency, but in actual fact the office Christmas party at the local karaoke bar proceeded by a visit to a pub or 5. So with the social lubricant of alcohol I got to know all the characters of muirhoward and watch them “sing” very, very badly.

After the Christmas holiday and back in the real world I got down to good old-fashioned graft, relishing the opportunities to get immediately stuck in with drawing up ideas (see photo of a desk full of scamps) for big brands and helping build presentations and pitches for current and new business whilst working alongside a brilliant group of creatives. This was a refreshing change from previous placements and I still have the prospects of getting further involved in the digital and video focused sides of the business.

Around the office is a colourful experience – music playing and ranging from Lionel Richie, Warpaint and Nick Drake (and at times playing all at once), people getting in life sized birthday cards and Giraffes appearing from nowhere! (See photos)

Outside of the office I have been lucky enough through muirhoward to get invited along to a an exclusive talk at the Hospital Club held by independent grading company ‘dirty looks’, which for this aspiring art director and cinephile was a fascinating and compelling insight into the power of grading and colour in moving image, commercially and experimentally.

In summing up my first few weeks at muirhoward, I have been given enormous insight, involvement and experience in the world of advertising and been provided with firm grounding to continue to move forward in my career. I’m looking forward to getting to know the agency and everyone who is a part of it better, and with the prospect of a Burns night outing with the agency I’ll trust creative director and Scotsman Ken will lead the agency in delivering a better rendition of “Auld Langs Syne” than the rendition of “Girls and Boys”.